A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the New York State Education Department's Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services Vocational Rehabilitation and P-12: Office of Special Education regarding the joint responsibilities of each in the provision of transition services for students with disabilities related to post-school employment is available at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/transition/MOU-ACCES-OSE.htm.
For additional information, please contact the P-12: Office of Special Education at (518) 473-2878 or ACCES-VR at (518) 473-1626.
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Information related to two opportunities to provide public comment on proposed amendments to Regulations of the Commissioner of Education has been made available.
• NYSED proposes to amend the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to conform to federal requirements relating to written notification and parental consent for the use of public benefits or insurance to pay for services under the IDEA. NYSED has scheduled three public hearing sessions to receive comments on the proposed amendments. For more information please see http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/comment/announcepublichearing-parentalconsent.htm
• NYSED is also seeking public comment on a revised proposed amendment to establish a New York State Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential for students with disabilities. For more information, please see http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/comment/comment-CDOSCC.htm
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The NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC), in collaboration with Cornell University’s Employment and Disability Institute, is interested in improving the services and supports available to siblings of individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities (I/DD) in New York State.

Siblings are increasingly serving as the primary caregiver or advocate for their brothers and sisters who receive services from the NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and their network of not-for-profit agencies. In an effort to enhance agencies’ ability to support siblings, we are conducting an online survey of the services and supports currently available to siblings of people with developmental disabilities as well as any future supports and training needs. Once the survey is completed, a report will be provided to the DDPC. Based on the data collected, needs and funding options will be considered.
The survey should be completed by an agency’s executive director or a designated staff person who is familiar with service delivery and the families to whom the agency provide services. Only one person per agency should complete the survey.
To access the Service Delivery Survey, please click on the following link:
https://cornell.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3JdWy1VRRwI2DwE
Completing the survey will take approximately 10 minutes. Please complete the survey by April 30, 2013. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact:
Nancy A. Hinkley
nah36@cornell.edu
Employment and Disability Institute
201 Dolgen Hall
Ithaca, New York 14853
t. 607.255.1109

Additional information regarding the project may be found at http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/p-NYSSiblingNeedsAssessment.cfm
Your help and cooperation with the Sibling Service Delivery Survey will assist in the improvement of the system of supports and services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Thank you for your support of this endeavor.

The P-12: Office of Special Education recently issued a memorandum providing information on a recent amendment to federal regulations relating to a district's responsibility to obtain parental consent prior to billing Medicaid or other public insurance benefits for special education services. 34 CFR section 300.154(d), implementing IDEA, was amended effective March 18, 2013 to simplify procedures for district access to public benefits while at the same time continue to protect family rights. More information can be found at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/parentconsent-publicbenefits.htm

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